When I have free time in a new country, I always go to the local bookstore, library, shoe boutique and post office. I frequently write letters and cards to the old friends (living mostly in Austria and Germany). I don’t even remember how and when I began writing ones but I do enjoy writing cards and finding a post office in a new town. Wherever I travel to, whether mountain resorts in the Pacific Northwest or Midtown Manhattan in New York City, the first thing I do is always write and send cards.
As I came to the capital of Indonesia, however, I found it really difficult to get Indonesian postcards. I went to several bookstores, luxury shopping malls, novelty stores, handicraft stores and even a railway station. Nothing worked. Then I asked my acquaintances where I can find postcards.
Their answer was simply “no”. “You cannot buy a postcard, sir. It is outdated,” they replied. It was just a bit surprising. The postcards seem to be considered outdated in Indonesia, or at least in Jakarta, and aren’t sold anymore.
My acquaintances even asked me whether you can “still” find printed cards in Japan, Germany or other, in their words, “technologically advanced” countries. That sounded a little silly. You can find ones even in the most technologically advanced cities in Northern California (the cards from San Francisco were printed elsewhere, though). Maybe I was experiencing culture shock to some degree.
Because I couldn’t find postcards, I needed to find something else. An American friend of mine asked me to send her a chocolate bar instead. I thought that would be a good idea.
Indonesia is one of the largest cocoa producers in the world. You can find many tasty chocolate products here. The only problem is they can be prohibited or restricted under the customs act in some countries. Further research is needed before sending ones as a substitute for postcards. Saying hello from Indonesia isn’t that easy!
